The Parkland Rangers finally know who they will face in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League quarterfinals.

The Rangers clinched fifth place, thanks to the Winnipeg Wild’s 5-2 win over the Southwest Cougars on Sunday, setting up a first-round match up with the Yellowhead Chiefs.

Game one of the best-of-five goes Thursday in Shoal Lake, with game two in Dauphin, Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Rangers head coach Tyler Carefoot is expecting a gritty, in-your-face type of series.

“The Chiefs have proven to be a tough out all season. They are used to playing tight games, 2-1 and 3-2, so we have to be prepared to get greasy,” he said.

Carefoot added the Rangers have the edge offensively with more scoring depth and he really likes his team’s defence.

“And if we get goaltending like our last game, we are going to be tough to play against,” he added. “This group of Rangers have put pride back in the jersey. Hopefully, we can go on a run to generate even more excitement for the program. We’re just happy to not only be in the playoffs, but I think it’s safe to say that we’re mostly happy to be facing our arch rivals.”

Yellowhead is a gritty team that is tough to play against. What they lack in offence they make up for with strong goaltending and defence.

“They’re always in your face, so we have to match that. I like our D. I think we’re a little more offensive minded than they are. But once you get into the playoffs, it’s about sand paper and grit and minimizing turnovers. So we’re going to have to do a better job of that,” he said. “I think it’s going to be close. I think they’re going to be close games and we have to expect that. Hopefully we find ways to score more goals than them.”

The rest of the best-of-five series has yet to be scheduled.

Dauphin’s Safeway store has been a boon for the Dauphin and District Food Bank since joining the Second Harvest Food Rescue program in November.

On Friday, the local store presented a cheque for $7,200 to the food bank.

Safeway store manager Dale Gawryluik said a lot of the store’s fund-raising goes to the Second Harvest program, which they began participating in last November.

“Currently, we have 21,247 meals donated. So for every $2 that is donated, it feeds one person, which is great. And we’ll continue to do this program,” he said.

Gawryluik said giving back to the community is important.

“Personally, myself, I like to give back to the community, which we’ve done today. And we’ll continue to support the food bank, as well as the friendship centre.”

Some of the food collected through Second Harvest is shared with Parkview Lodge and Happy Haven, as well as the Dauphin Friendship Centre’s Food for Thought program.

“So we’re not just supporting the food bank. We’re supporting anybody that is in need of food today. Especially with the rising cost of merchandise today, it goes a long way for these individuals to be supported,” Gawryluik said. “And we’ll continue to support right until the program is done. But I can’t see the program ever being done. We’re happy to help the community as much as we can.”

The Christmas holidays is always a busy time of year for the food bank, but thanks to the generosity of area residents, the food bank has been able to answer the demand of those in need.

“Dauphin is a very, very giving city and we have no trouble getting donations in whether it be food or monetary. They’ve been helping us for years, keeping our shelves stocked,” said the food bank’s Robin Gambler, adding Safeway has been a big help, as well.

Tom Monson said local residents always answer the call, especially around Christmas.

“They seem to want to give money. And it really goes to a good cause. It goes to help us and all of the other people in the community. And it’s just not Dauphin. We get some of the surrounding area, too, that are struggling,” he said.

Now that the holidays are over, Gambler said the shelves are still stocked in some areas and they have started purchasing needed items.

“To make sure we have all the food groups in our hampers that we give out,” she said.

Monson visits the local Safeway store every day to pick up food through the Second Harvest program. On Friday, he picked up 88 pounds of meat, 140 pounds of produce, 30 pounds of prepared food, 15 pounds of bread and about 18 pounds of baked goods.

“That was this morning only. And this goes on seven days a week in this store. It’s a real benefit to us,” he said.

A country music artist originally from the Parkland has signed her first deal with a music label.

Frannie Klein, who grew up in Bacon Ridge and Eddystone and attended school in Ste. Rose, recently signed with Heartsville Records, which is based in Australia.

The Dauphin Kings enter the Christmas break having won three of their last four Manitoba Junior Hockey League contests.

The Kings split a home-and-home with the Selkirk Steelers over the weekend, dropping a 5-2 decision on Friday in Selkirk, before rebounding with a dominating 7-3 win on home ice, Saturday.

Fusion Credit Union awarded $30,000 to the winner of its Community Infusion contest, Dec. 6, when the final five contestants had a chance to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges.

Dauphin’s Dustin Dawson was named the winner after he spoke about purchasing Showdra Meats.

With one game remaining before the Christmas break, the Dauphin Clippers hope to build on their success from the first half of the season when they return in the new year.

The Clippers dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to the Boissevain/Souris Broncos in their final home game of 2021, Saturday.

The Parkland Rangers enter the Christmas break as one of the hottest teams in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League.

A weekend sweep of the Kenora Thistles gave the Rangers wins in 10 of their last 12 games and improved Parkland’s record to 16-9-2-1 for 35 points, good for fourth place, two points ahead of the Winnipeg Thrashers and Southwest Cougars.